[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING CLAUDE L. AND MICHELLE D. WINFIELD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Claude and 
Michelle ``Shelley'' Winfield. The Winfields have made unique personal 
contributions in their professional lives and through their volunteer 
efforts to benefit New Yorkers at-large.
  Mr. and Ms. Winfield have spent the majority of their professional 
careers in education. Mr. Winfield was born in Virginia and moved to 
New York City as a young boy. He earned an undergraduate degree in 
electrical engineering from New York University, and began his career 
working for Western Electric. He later earned masters degrees in 
elementary education and education administration from City University 
of New York. Mr. Winfield found his true calling when he began 
teaching. He taught 2nd grade English and middle school science, and 
later became the principal of Walt Whitman Middle School in Brooklyn, 
which served 1,900 students. Mr. Winfield is a strong proponent of the 
progressive teaching methods that he feels benefited him as a young 
student.
  Ms. Winfield grew up in Pennsylvania, and earned an undergraduate 
degree in home economics from Howard University before beginning her 
teaching career. She received masters degrees in education 
administration from Fordham University and in special education from 
Adelphi University. For 15 years, until her retirement in 2002, Ms. 
Winfield was the beloved Supervisor of Special Education at Robert 
Wagner Middle School in Manhattan where she inspired in her colleagues 
and students an appreciation for the intrinsic value of education.
  The Winfields are deeply involved in the community, serving in 
leadership positions in a variety of organizations. Mr. Winfield serves 
as Manhattan Community Board 6 Executive Committee Vice Chairman and 
Chairman of the Community Board's Housing, Homeless Services and Human 
Rights Committee. He also volunteers as a docent at the Museum for 
African Art.
  Ms. Winfield is an active member of the of the Parent Advisory Board 
at the National Dance Institute. She has been an enthusiastic advocate 
for the program since her son participated in it as a student at P.S. 
I24M. She was appointed by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer 
to serve on the Community Advisory Board of Bellevue Hospital Center 
and assists with fundraising for The Duke Ellington Society, Inc. in 
Manhattan.
  Ms. Winfield had an early introduction to the civil rights movement 
as a result of her family's activism and community service. Her father 
was a civil rights leader who served as President of the North 
Philadelphia Action Branch of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In accordance with the family 
tradition, Mr. and Ms. Winfield have worked with the NAACP Mid-
Manhattan Branch, which honored them with the Distinguished Service 
Award in 1975.
  The couple is also very involved in local political organizations, 
including the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club, for which Ms. Winfield 
serves on the donations committee. In April, they received the Samuel 
J. Tilden Democratic Club Humanitarian Award for their tireless 
advocacy and incredible contributions of their time and talents to 
strengthen the community.
  Married in 1974, Mr. and Ms. Winfield are the proud parents of two 
children, Marie and Michael, and adore their son-in-law Konrad Pust. 
They are also loving grandparents to their granddaughter, Sophie.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Claude 
and Shelley Winfield. This remarkable couple are shining examples of 
selfless devotion to community service.

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